Gay and Lesbian theatre in America can be traced back to the 1920s. However, it was riddled with stereotypes about those who identified with the community. Men were portrayed as sexual rascals that lacked the values associated with American men while women are shown as rough and tough. Springing out from experimental theatre and the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s, homosexual playwrights, actors, and directors began to address issues facing their community while other artist chose to shy away from them. many notable plays from the movement include Boys in the Band and musicals such as Boy Meets Boy. Though many shows started Off-Broadway and smaller theaters, Many gained traction and became successful enough to win Tony Awards. The feminist theatre movement bough attention to lesbian ensembles across the nation.
The AIDS crisis brought new issues to the homosexual theatre and many shows focused on the stress the community was facing due to it. The themes of gay theatre transitioned from the popular shows with glittery, flashy drag and the lesser appreciate plays about young men discovering their sexuality to extremely emotional plays about the tragedy facing the community due to to the AIDs epidemic such as The Normal Heart and the extremely popular piece Rent.
The AIDS crisis brought new issues to the homosexual theatre and many shows focused on the stress the community was facing due to it. The themes of gay theatre transitioned from the popular shows with glittery, flashy drag and the lesser appreciate plays about young men discovering their sexuality to extremely emotional plays about the tragedy facing the community due to to the AIDs epidemic such as The Normal Heart and the extremely popular piece Rent.